title: Persistence during extinction: examining the effects of continuous and intermittent reinforcement on problem behavior.
abstract: This study examined behavioral persistence during extinction following continuous or intermittent reinforcement in the context of an analogue functional analysis of problem behavior. Participants were 4 children who had been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and who engaged in problem behavior maintained by social reinforcement. Experimental sessions included 4 successive 5-min components: no social interaction, continuous or intermittent reinforcement for problem behavior (alternating across sessions), extinction, and no social interaction. All participants' problem behavior was more persistent during extinction following continuous reinforcement, suggesting that behavior during extinction was affected by the preceding schedule of reinforcement.
authors.affiliation: NEW ENGLAND CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY.
authors.forename: Jacquelyn M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Ahearn
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parry-Cruwys
authors.forename: Stacie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bancroft
authors.forename: William V
authors.initials: WV
authors.lastname: Dube
mesh_terms: D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000150:complications; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology
keywords: autism; behavioral momentum; problem behavior; resistance to change